in this place which is only just beginning, promises very well. The teacher Mr. Fournier, has an excellent method of teaching. There were 27 pupils in his school. The three convents continue to be worthy of their reputation and turn out very good teachers. This is why I can say, in all truthfulnes, that nine-tenths of my schools are first class. I may also add that my model: schools furnish their contingent of teachers who do equally well. In Mr. Joly's independent school a good practical education is given to 42 pupils. The pupils in all the institutions are classed as follows: 1st year 712; 2nd year, 971; 3rd year, 1408; 4th year 1319; 5th year 260; 6th year 66; 7th year 8. These numbers confirm what I have always said viz: that the children leave school as soon as they have made their first communion. In the elementary schools one seldora finds a boy of 11 years of age. What proves the good quality of the schools is that the boys are generally sufficiently advanced to make their first communion between 9 and 10 years of age, and the girls invariably at 9. Pupils studying the various branches: Spelling 1982; Reading fluently 2762; Reading with expression 1622; Writing 4744 being all the pupils without exception, nine-tenths writing on paper and the remainder on. slates. All can sign their names. Arithmetic 4587, (nine-tenths) Grammar 2772 (a little over one-half) Parsing, 848. Composition, 1622. Geography 2772. Drawing maps 269. Drawing, 2772. Lessons 2772. Book-keeping, 1752. Sacred History 2772. History of Canada, 2772. History of England, 228. History of France, 287. Belles Lettres, 1688. Natural History, 79. Agriculture, 2762. Mensuration, 32. Algebra, 122. Geometry, 321. English speaking pupils learning French 14. French speaking pupils learning English 652. Sewing and embroidery 419. Vocal Music, 185. The average annual salary of female lay teachers in the elementary schools it $76.00 and in model schools $122.00. The two male teachers receive each $300.00. This is the fullest report I can give; it shows you the actual conditions of all the institutions in my district. There is a decrease this year in the grand total of pupils. This difference is due to emigration which has occurred in my district on an extraordinary scale. There is a time-table in each school, oral and practical teaching are excellently carried on, as is also Catechism. Discipline is very good. Every where financial matters are in a flourishing condition and, on the whole, I am satisfied. The whole respectfully submitted, I have the honour, &c. P. J. BÉLAND, School Inspector. SIR, MR J. E. BELCOURT. [Translation] NICOLET, July 30th. 1889. I have the honor to submit my report on the state of the schools in my district for the scholastic year ending the 30th of June 1889. My district comprises thirty seven municipalities, with two hundred and thirteen elementary schools (208 being in operation during the year), twenty model schools, two academies and one classical college; in all two hundred and thirty-six educational institutions, attended by 9365 scholars. Seven thousand three hundred and forty-five can read fluently; 6745 can write; 5367 are learning Arithmetic and 3209 are studying Grammar. In conformity with the requirements of the revised scholastic rules, I will explain the following synoptical table which gives to each municipality its respective rating as to the condition of the school houses, their dependencies and grounds; the condition of their furniture and other school appliances; the manner in which the course of study is followed; ths use of approved books, the rate of pay of the tea hers and the manner of payment. Nicolet (town), 19; St. Thomas (village). 10; St. François (village), 8; Ste Angèle de Laval, 8; Baie du Febvre, 7; St. Bonaventure, 7; St Guillaume, 7; St. Elphege, 7; Nicolet (parish), 7; St. Grégoire, 7; 7; St. Célestin No. 1, 7; St. Michel No. 1, 7; St. David, 6; St. Michel No. 4, 6; St. Zéphirin, 6; St. Thomas, (parish), 6; Ste Eulalie, 6; St. François (parish), 6; Ste Monique, 6; Gentilly, 6; St. Célestin No. 2, 6; St. Wenceslas, 6; St. Pierre les Becquets, 7; St. Michel No. 3, 5; St. Michel No. 5, 5, St. Michel No. 6, 5; St. Pie de Guise, 5; Bécancour, 5; St. Leonard, 5; Ste Gertrude, 5; St. Sylvestre, 5; Ste Brigitte, 5; Ste Sophie, 5; Ste Marie, 5; Ste Perpetue, 5; St. Samuel, 4; St. Michel No. 2, 4. During my last visit I endeavored to have the new course of study well understood. I insisted upon a copy of this course of study and of the scholastic rules being immediately placed in each school, in order that the female teachers should be enabled to follow on all points the instructions which they contain. I gave the necessary explanations during the examination of each school, and I am convinced that the good results which we have reason to expect from the course of study will be felt next year. The progress which I noticed in my last visit is as follows: Very good in 42 schools, good in 112, inferior in 54 and null in 9. Two epidemic diseases which raged during a great part of the year in my district did much harm, inasmuch as the attendance of scholars was more irregular than usual. Moreover, the inclemency of the weather during the months of October, November, January and February was also very hurtful, Theses causes, with the little zeal displayed some of the female teachers who are but poorly paid, explain the want of progress shown in the sixty three schools above mentioned. All the religious communities in my district continue to give full satisfaction. Mr Isaac Lussier, the only male lay teacher of my district, did good work in the elementary school of the village of St. Guillaume. The female teachers who distinguished themselves in their teaching during the year, are the Misses Marie Elise Montam beau, Eléonore Girard and Georgine Dumont, of Becancour: Emiline Desfossés, of Ste-Eulalie: Zélia Deshayes and Mélanie Dureau, of Ste-Angèle de Laval; Rose-Anna Camirand, Laura Papillon and Parméla Nourri, of Ste Monique ; Lucias Pratte, of St Léonard; Ernestine Provencher, of Ste-Gertrude; Antoinette Marchand and Rose Anna Petit, of Gentilly; Virginie St-Cyr, of Nicolet; Marie Tourigny and Apolline Cormier, of St-Grégoire; Suzanne Pressé, of Ste Sophie de Lévrard; Eléonore Langis, Jeanne des Cormiers, Rachel Baril and Joséphine Cossette, of St. Pierre les Becquets, in the county of Nicolet; Johanna Houle and Hortense Martel, of St. Zéphirin; Cleophée Durocher, of St. Pie de Guire; Gaudeline Létourneau and Marie Alvina Boisvert, of St. Bonaventure; Dina Héroux, Amanda Rouleau, Marie Lambert and Clémentine Boucher, of St. Elphège; Anne Rousseau, Hélène Gill and Alphonsine Jalbot, of St. Thomas; Léa Bergeron and Rosilda Langlois, of St. David; Lucias Chapdeleine, Elodie Côté, Regina Cartier and Hélène Massé, of St François du Lac; Reine Alic, Marie Anna Belcourt and Honorine Montgrand, of La Baie du Febvre; Elzire Joyal and Herméline Cardin, of St Michel d'Yamaska, in the county of Yamaska. All the secretary-treasurers do not yet keep their books according to the official method. The most of them, especially in the small municipalities, have no ledger. They however, perform their duties faithfully with respect to the collection of taxes and the payment of teachers. I trust that this report, with the inspection bulletins which I have sent you during the year, will be sufficient to make you acquainted with the state of education in my district during the scholastic year 1888-89. I have the honor, etc., J. E. BELCOURT, SIR, MR. C. BOUCHARD. (Translation) ST-RAPHAEL, 6th August, 1889. I have the honor to submit my report for the year 1888-89. My inspection district comprises the counties of Bellechasse, Montmagny and l'Islet, and is composed of 35 school municipalities. There are 206 schools, classed as follows: 181 elementary schools, 19 model schools and 6 academies. The number of schools under control, is 196; 8 independent schools are subsidized by the Government and two are not subsidized. 249 professors, and male and female teachers teach in these schools. There are ten professors belonging to religious orders and seven male lay teachers. Three teachers hold diplomas from Normal Schools, three from the board of examiners and one taught without a diploma in an ndependent school. Among the 232 female teachers, 42 belong to religious orders, 160 hold diplomas and 30 have no diplomas. Of the 87 schools of all kinds comprised in the county of Bellechasse, 11 have merited the note: Very good, 32 the note good, 28 the note pass. able, 14 the note inferior and 2 the note null. The county of Montmagny comprises 51 schools which have merited. the following notes: 7 very good 28 good, 23 passable, 3 inferior. The 68 schools of l'Islet are classed as follows: 10 very good, 29 good, 19 passable, 6 inferior and 4 null. These figures give as totals: 28 schools very good, 79 good, 70 passable, 23 inferior and 6 nuli. This shows that in my district more than two thirds of the schools are well conducted and render great services to the youths who attend them and to that part of the Province where they are situated. Though the schools are within the means of all and near to their residences, a great number of children do not attend, or, if they do, they do not attend regularly enough. Since I have been inspector, I notice that our rural population is not much better educated than ten years ago. I do not well know the reason therefor, but I think that young people have not acquired sufficient taste for study when attending school, and pay but little or no attention to it when they leave. To remedy this, the Revd Mr. Methot, curé of St. Eugène, in the county of l'Islet, is thinking of establishing sunday schools. The teachers in his parish will teach, under his direction, on Sunday between the hours of Divine Service. This project is undoubtedly a good one, but in order to succeed, the teachers should be somewhat better paid, and as it is difficult to exact more from the tax-payers, I would beg of the Government to increase the amount of the subsidy granted to common schools, as soon as the finances of the Province will allow it. I note that in many municipalities the school commissioners do not follow the advice of the inspector, nor even the recommendations of the superintendent. We hear these good people say: "Why do this or that? We are not accustomed to do what you advise!" The chairman of one of the school boards, a well educated person, once said to me: "If the Department of Public Instruction is not satisfied, let it keep its subsidies and we will maintain our schools without it. " These complaints are caused undoubtedly by my prodecessors not making regular visits and also because secretary-treasurers and commissioners are not in the habit of receiving and following the counsels of the authorities. I trust that this unfortunate state of things will disappear when the commissioners will better understand their duties. The Code of Public Instruction, published by Mr Paul de Cazes, secretary of the department, which the Government has forwarded to all the municipalities, is very likely to produce this effect. I congratulate it upon its action in this matter. The school regulations are suitable for all persons who are engaged in teaching; all can find what they require to enable them the better to fulfill their duties. I may state that they are much appreciated everywhere; I only found one municipality which objected to the regulations. I still often hear it said that our course of study is too complicated, that it comprises too many subjects, especially in the elementary branches. Drawing, object lessons, and agricultural instruction are objected to. 1 totally differ from the persons holding such ideas, and I have enough experience to be able to say that schools are good only when they teach such subjects, and this for the following reasons: Where all these subjects are taught in a school, there is both variety and emulation, the children do not feel wearied, and everything goes on well. But to consider the matter seriously, is it possible for children who can only read a little, who know a little Cathechism, and hardly any Arithmetic, to study without interruption during two and half or three hours? Certainly not. What then do they do? They talk and play together to pass the time. Any one can see what the results will be in such a school. I have now to classify the municipalities by order of merit, according to your instructions. To comply with the school regulations, I have allowed ten points for each of the following subjects: standing of the school, condition of the school houses, of their furniture, black-boards, class journals, maps, course of study, register of visitors and salaries. The total of the points divided by the ten preceding subjects gives the average, which divided in its turn by the number of schools in each mu |